A2 RED DEER ADVOCATE Tuesday, Oct. 22, 2013
Veer vows to unify city JEFFERIES PONDERS FUTURE AFTER 18 YEARS IN PUBLIC OFFICE BY CRYSTAL RHYNO ADVOCATE STAFF Tara Veer is Red Deer’s new mayor. Veer, a third-term councillor, took a deciding 9,400 votes, followed by Cindy Jefferies in a close second with 7,971 votes. An emotional Veer called Monday evening’s results surreal and thanked her volunteer team and supporters. “I am just honoured to be able to serve Red Deer in this capacity,” said Veer, 35. “It’s going to be a great four years and the best is yet to come.” Veer said she has had a love of politics since she was a young age. Veer said the city took a chance with her at a very young age as a councillor and now they have trusted her in the role of mayor. “I just feel so honoured and privileged to be able to represent the people of my community that I know and love so dearly,” said Veer. She said the goal now is to work with the new council and bring unity in the community. Jefferies, 50, thanked her team of volunteers and supporters for their work over the campaign. Disappointed, she said her team ran a good race but it did not go her way. Jefferies said she was unsure of the deciding issue. “It may have come down to the bike lanes,” said Jefferies, also a third-term councillor. “It may have come down to looking like I was the one who was going to take our city more forward and perhaps invest in it and spend a little more money. That may have been the issue but it’s really hard to say.” Jefferies said she is not worried about what is next for her. She has spent 18 years in public office, serving on Red Deer city council since 2004 and for nine years on Red Deer Public School District board before that. “I have a list a mile long of projects that I would like to work on,” said Jefferies. “I’m going to sit down over the next little bit and maybe take a holiday.”
Photo by JEFF STOKOE/Advocate
Family friend and campaign volunteer Anika Tough gives mayoral candidate Cindy Jefferies a hug after it was clear that Tara Veer would become Red Deer’s next mayor. other candidates may have lobbied harder and spent more money on their campaigns. Trepanier declined comment while Mason was unavailable. The race for the mayor’s chair be-
Placing third in the race was Dennis Trepanier with 1,513 votes, followed by William Horn with 951 votes and Chad Mason with 409 votes. Horn said he was obviously disappointed with the outcome. He said
came wide opened when Morris Flewwelling, 72, decided not to run again. Municipal terms have changed this election from the previous three years to four. crhyno@reddeeradvocate.com
Incumbents dominate at the polls LEE, JOHNSTON AND HANDLEY BREAK THROUGH BY SUSAN ZIELINSKI ADVOCATE STAFF Red Deerians clung tightly to all five council incumbents in Monday’s civic election. Dianne Wyntjes, Buck Buchanan, Lynne Mulder, Frank Wong and Paul Harris were all re-elected to Red Deer city council. That left three seats open to new candidates Lawrence Lee, Ken Johnston and Tanya Handley. Wyntjes received the most votes with 9,840, followed by Buchanan
LOTTERIES
RED DEER CITY COUNCIL guys.” Red Deer First launched their campaign early and was the first of its kind in a Red Deer municipal election. The six candidates shared the same principles of fiscal responsibility, transparency and accountability, economic development, safer streets and quality of life. Red Deer First member Handley said campaigning as team was unique and helped her win. “The way I campaigned was a little different than 24 of the candidates. I had a great team behind me. Lots of help with sign repair and campaigning,” Handley said. But it was still a surprise to win, she said.
(8,434), Lee (8,406), Mulder (8,341), Wong (8,018), Johnston (7,134), Harris (6,631) and Handley (6,622). Dennis Moffat, the oldest candidate at 80, and a former councillor, did not get elected but took the ninth position with 5,437 votes. Buchanan said voters were probably overwhelmed with the record slate of 30 candidates and had a fear of the unknown. “I think there was a certain amount of angst in regards to some the Red Deer First people. I think there was this, ‘We don’t want this because we just don’t know about it,’ ” said Buchanan, a second-term councillor. “I think that helped the incumbents to a certain degree. We know these
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“My head is spinning a little right now. I don’t know how much sleep I’ll get tonight.” She said joining the five incumbents will be an “interesting proposition.” “They definitely have a lot of experience. I certainly need to learn from them and work together as a group and collaborate.” Harris said he was a little bit nervous looking at who will make up the city council. “There seems to be a little bit of a divide between progressive people and people who are regressive. Now is going to have to be the time to build some consensus and make sure that we can articulate why things need to be done and how they’re going to help the city,” said Harris, who has been on council for two terms.
Please see COUNCIL on Page A3
Numbers are unofficial.
WEATHER LOCAL TODAY
TONIGHT
WEDNESDAY
THURSDAY
FRIDAY
Stk. #30464
HIGH 12
LOW 2
HIGH 7
HIGH 13
HIGH 16
Mainly cloudy.
30% chance of showers.
Cloudy.
Sunny. Low 1.
Sunny. Low -1.
REGIONAL OUTLOOK
Olds, Sundre: today, mainly sunny. High 15. Low 2. Rocky, Nordegg: today, cloudy. High 11. Low 1. Banff: today, mainly sunny. High 11. Low 1. Jasper: today, mainly cloudy. High 13. Low
TONIGHT’S HIGHS/LOWS
0. Lethbridge: today, sun and cloud. High 17. Low 2. Edmonton: today, chance of showers. High 14. Low -1. Grande Prairie: today, chance of showers. High 12. Low 2. Fort McMurray: today, chance of showers. High 6. Low -3.
WINDCHILL/SUNLIGHT
FORT MCMURRAY
6/-3 GRANDE PRAIRIE
12/2
EDMONTON
14/-1 JASPER
13/0
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RED DEER
12/2 BANFF
11/1 UV: 2 (Low) Extreme: 11 or higher Very high: 8 to 10 High: 6 to 7 Moderate: 3 to 5 Low: Less than 2 Sunset tonight: 6:25 p.m. Sunrise Wednesday: 8:15 a.m.
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